Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-15
HE cHATsWoRTH ACCIDENT.
Examining ihe Cause or the Bridge
Eire = Kobbing the Dead and
Wounded.

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Eire Kobbing the Dead and
Wounded.
OFFICIAL ENQUIRY.
Chicago, August 12-I the Inter Oceans
Chatsworth, ILL.,, special says: The
members Of the state board OF railroad
and warehouse commissioners arri7s,d
here this afternoon from Springfield.
On their arrival at the fatal bridge they
found the wreckage had been entirely
cleared from the track and new raIis laid
across the break. The commissioners
remained there for an hour and half
and the drove to Piper City to see the
wounded. In the evening they returned
to Chatsworth and read over the evI-
dence taken by the coroner. People who
have carefully examined the scene OF the
disaster take little or no stock in the
theory OF the railroad people that the
bridge was set atire by vandals who de-
sired to rob the killed and injured.
None of the Survivors who escaped early
from the wfeck saw any strangers at 1t
inside of an hour. Some OF the residents
near Obatsworth think there we're thievss
on the train who took advantage OF tie
wreck to ply their trade. The grass along
the north side of the track at the bridge
ls long and some of it is dry, but there
was no sign Of fire having burned it. The
grass Rlong the south side had not at all
been burned week ago, as claimed by
the section boss. There was dry grass
and weeds very close to the bridge, but
the wreck had SO torn up the earth in
the immediate vicinity of the bridge
that it is impossible to learn whether the
grass burned along the south side OF the
bridge. The country here had been
without any rain for nearly eight weeks
and the grass and dead timber was as
dry as tinder. A spark might have
| started Q blaze and it is impossible that
the fire might have been set agoing By
q spark dropped from the fire bog Of an
| engine drawing the zoad masters inspec-
| tion train, which passed oyer at O'Clock
| In the afternoon. A fire wac burning
brightly at $50 in the evening, but
when the tram approached wac very
faint. according to the story of Engineer
Southerland. Itis claimed by some 9!
the residents near the place that they
| saw smoke in the direction of the bridge
as early as O'Clock in the afternoon.
l RoBBING THE UNFORTUNATEs.
Chastworth, H., Ang. 12-Stories and
incidents concerning the disaster are
1 just beginning to come to light as the ak.
| cite ment in measure dies ont. Rob
berries are also ,coming known. Miller
Patterson, when he left Wyoming, his
home, carried q silver watch and about
$50 in money after buying his ticket
Only about SO 30 was found on his body
A man, apparently tramp, about 81
years OF age, IVES caught in the act oil
robbing corpse, and was spotted there
after by young man and made Rneat
/ for Piper CIty. For three hours one
woman was hanging out Of Car window
her body lifeless. She was caught
BY the thighs, and it took ftteel
minutes to extrioate her. Her legl
were horribly mangled, and the flesh wa
torn completely off. One OF the most
ghoulish acts ever recorded is gong tht
rounds. man was getting out of The
cars. Near him during the journey wa
q woman with q fine gold watch ant
chain. She was badly injured, and cried
with anguish. "Oh, God, help mel
The man turned apparently to assis
her, but instead stopped over, grabbed
the watch and chain and fled, Th.
rescuing party; who were among the frs
w ~ thEouBu VIC WE6chb bhW WRtcu6R
chains and pocketbooks scattered
around. Such Of these as they had tim,
they picked mp and restored to thei
owners. The tram wreckers are work.
ing both ways at the wreck, and it il
almost certain they will not get the tract
cleared before tomorrow night. In tn
third coach from the engine was
man with his wife and daughter
Il When the wreck occurred he los
/ hnnd-satchel he said, bnt afterwar.
found it, but has pocketbook; containing
| sos. was gone. James Burling, o
4 FerriB. was in the third car from th
front, and was but slightly injured. ii
relates his experience as follows: "a
| first I thought the car we we've in wa
loft the track, as it wenstthumping along
Almost instantly 1t stopped, and at ono
!. could be heard men pounding on th
root with axes. Suddenly the roof spill
open and craw'ed out. Some others ha
crawied out, and more were doing sc
= Cries and shrieks could be heasd, bu
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